Planting for Winter Effect in the North^ 



George Edward McClure, Buffalo 



WHEN we contemplate planting for 

 winter effect, the mind turns first 

 to the evergreens, then l3 berry 

 plants, and to the bright colored branches 

 of the dogwoods and osiers, and so 



The Berries of Eoonymas Bungeanut 



forth, but seldom do we think of the 

 beautiful effect of the winter woods, the 

 persistent foliage of some of the beeches 

 and oaks, which although brown and 

 dry, yet is cheerful in its effect. Little is 

 thought of the beautiful shades of brown, 

 grey and white, in the trunk an 1 branch, 

 or of the variety of the frame work of 

 the various trees, which gives an element 

 of strength to the winter landscape, or 

 to the variety in trees and shr-ls, in the 

 delicate tracery of their smaller twigs, as 

 evidenced by some of the birches and al- 

 ders, and so forth, in the trees, and in 

 the shrubs, by such as Stephanandra 

 flexuosa, the coral berry (Symphoricar- 

 pus vulgaris) and some of the spireas. 



DECIDUOUS TREES 



Among the deciduous trees which are 

 attractive during winter might be men- 

 tioned the American plane or sycamore 



* liiXtracta from a paper read before the Society of 

 American Florists and Ornamental HorticnlluriKts, at 

 ilH annual convention at Niaifara I'all«. N.Y. The in- 

 formation ouplioH lo the rcKion of the Great hakoH and 

 locations of similar climate. Many of the spccien 

 recommended for planting. b>it not all, may bo used in 

 " !' 'Its of Canada where luvrdy plants will grow. 



(PLatanus uccidentalis) which, with its 

 pendent balls of fruit borne high against 

 the sky, seem to take away the barren- 

 ness of the deciduous trees, and is sug- 

 gestive of the Christmas decoraitions so 

 admired by the young folks, on Christ- 

 mas trees. While this tree is beautiful 

 in winter, it has also much to recommend 

 it as a fast-growing tree for summer ef- 

 fect. Its beautiful bark, with the irregu- 

 lar patches of green and grey, are also 

 •nteresting in the winter season. la much 

 the same manner the liquid amber 

 (Liquidambar styraciflua) is interesting 

 with its fruit in pendent spiked balls. Its' 

 symmetrical form of growth and ex- 

 tremely corky branches are noticeable to 

 those who are only casual observers. 



The little shell-bark hickory (Hickoria 

 ovata) while suggestive of st-ength, is 

 also especially interesting on account of 

 its peculiar bark formation, which is un- 

 like any other common species of tree. If 

 planted near the shell-bark hickory and 

 other trees with rough bark the 

 American beech (Fagus ferruginea) 

 shows to advantage, as its grey bark is 

 the smothest of any of our hardy Ameri- 

 can trees and never fails to attract at- 

 tention from those who see^ the beau- 

 ties of winter as found in our woods. It 

 is also especially attractive in winter as 

 the young trees often hold their dry 

 leaves as do some of the oaks well into 

 the winter. 



Among other trees which might be 

 mentioned as being attractive in winter, 

 from the standpoint of their bark color- 

 ation, are the yellow branched linden 

 (Tilia platyphyllos var. aurea), the Baby- 

 lonian or weeping willow(S'aZtA: Babylonica) 

 and the white willow (Salix alba) with its 

 brownish yellow branches, the white pop- 

 lar [Populus alba) and its fastigiate var- 

 iety, Bolleana, with their grey-green 

 bark, Acer Pennsylvanicun with its 

 white striped bark and greenish twigs, 

 the red birch {Betula nigra) with its 

 brown bark, and the canoe birch (Betula 

 papyrifera.) The white birch (Betula 

 populifolia ) and the Eu(!Dpean white 

 birch (Betula alba) are the most beau- 

 tiful white barked trees. Their graceful 

 outlines are one of the delights of winter 

 landscapes, but unfortunately they are 

 afflicted with the birch borer, which, in 

 some localities is so destructive that the 

 culture of the trees has been abandoned. 

 When it is possible for them to thrive, 

 they are charming if planted along with 

 some of the pines, such as the white 

 pine (Pinus strobus) and the pitch pine 

 (Pinus rigida.) The birches also thrive 

 in sandy soil, which is favorable to the 

 pines themselves. The effect of the 

 white, bark against the perpetual green 

 back ground of the pines is to many, 



more delightful in winter than when the 

 birches are covered with their summer 

 foliage. 



THE MIXED FOREST 



Excellent winter effects are glso ob- 

 tained by what the forester t rms the 

 "mixed forest," which is a mixture of 

 deciduous and coniferous trees. This 

 forest growth is often to be found along 

 the Great Lakes belt, and the effect is 

 often very beautiful. It would be* well 

 if we would learn from nature and repro- 

 duce these effects in our parks and large 

 estates. While it is out of the realm of 

 this paper to mention fall coloration ef- 

 fects, this "mixed forest" effect is un- 

 paralleled whea we behold the tints of 

 the maples mixed with the dark green 

 pines, and the impression produced is 

 one that lingers in the memory of the 

 most casual observer. 



USE OF EVERGREENS 



While we can secure much pleasure 

 from the observation of trees in their- 

 bark, twig and fruit formation, yet the 

 most impressive winter effects are large- 

 ly produced by using the hardy conifer- 

 ous evergreen with a lavish hand. In 

 this connection it may be said that an in- 

 finite variety of evergreens is not neces- 

 sary to produce fine effects, and while 

 the list of the iron-clad evergreens, suit- 

 able for northern climate, is wofully 



Euonymui Radicant, var. Vegata 



